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E. SCHNEIDER. APPARATUS FOR REPEATING AUTOMATICALLY ON A RAILWAYLOCOMOTIVE, TRACK SIGNALS PROVIDED FOR THE PROTECTION OF MOVING TRAINS.

APPUCATION FILED FEB. 28. i920. 1,352,389, PatentedSept. 7, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

E. SCHNEIDER. APPARATUS FOR REPEATfNG AUTOMATICALLY ON A RAILWAYLOCOMOTIVE, TRACK SIGNALS PROVIDED FOR THE PROTECTION OF MOVING TRAINS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28, 1920- 1,352,389. Paten ted Sept. 7, 1920.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

E. SCHNEIDER. APPARATUS FOR REPEATING AUTOMATICALLY ON A RAILWAYLOCOMOTIVE, TRACK SIGNALS PROVIDED FOR THE PROTECTION OF MOVING TRAINS.APPLICATION fILED FEB. 23. I920. 1,352,3 9, 4 I v PatentedSept. 7,1920.

4- SHEETS-SHELT 3.

E. SCHNEIDER. APPARATUS FOR REPEAT|NG AUTOMATICALLY ON A RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE, TRACK SIGNALS INS.

PROVIDED FOR THE PROTECTION OF MOVING TRA APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28.I920.

UN TED STA S lillENT OFFICE.

EUGENE SCHNEIDER, 0F PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR T0 SCHNEIDER &, CIE, OFPARIS,

FRANCE, A JOINT-STOCK COMPANY OF FRANCE.

APPARATUS FOR REPEATING AUTOMATICALLY ON A RAILWAY-LOCOMOTIVE, TRACKSIGNALS PROVIDED FOR THE PROTECTION OF MOVING TRAINS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. '7, 1920.

Application filed February 28, 1920. Serial No. 362,121.

To all "whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE Scnxnmnn, a citizen of the Republic ofFrance, and a resident of Paris, France, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Apparatus for Repeatm Automaticall I on a Railway- DLocomotive, 'Irack-oiguals rovided tor the Protection of Moving Trains,which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention has for its object to pro vide an improved apparatus forrepeating on a railway locomotive, track signals provided for theprotection of moving trains.

The principal devices hitherto proposed for this purpose are eitherpurely mechanical or electro mechanical.

The mechanical devices comprise hangers pivoted to the locomotive anddesigned to be actuated by the passage of the latter over depressibleinclined planes connected to the track signals. These devicesnecessitate an installation projecting inside the standard clearancegauge of the railway and are thus exposed to r )ltl damage.

The systems em loying electricity the agent for establishing theconnection between the locomotive and the track signals, have thedrawback that they comprise, as essential parts, a metallic contactwhose drawbacks are well known. \Vhere the lines of magnetic force areutilized, the resulting effects are very small, and have therefore to beintensified by amplifiers of electric or mechanical nature, which arecomplex and costly devices subject to numerous stoppages in theirworking.

The same drawbacks attend also apparatus based on transmission by meansof Hertzian waves.

The improved apparatus is altogether more simple in construction andmore reliable in operation than the devices hitherto known.

The improved apparatus consists essentially of a simple air ejector,such as a blower or ejector propel operated by steam taken from thelocomotive boiler. and arranged at any suitable point under thelocomotive. This ejector is designed to create in the neck of aconvergingaliverging nozzle, a constant depression of the air pressurefor a given steam pressure. The diverging portion of the nozzle isarranged in such lllHlllner that its mouth passes during the passage ofthe train, sufficiently close to screens or dampers that are connectedmechanically to the track signals, thereb modifying the discharge of themixture 0 air and steam from the nozzle, according to the positionswhich they receive and which correspond to the po sitions given to thesignals.

These modifications in the discharge of the mixture from the nozzle,produced automatically by the setting of the signals. re sult inproducing variations in the depression of the air pressure in certainregions of the nozzle, more particularly near the neck. which variationscan be repeated upon a diaphragm. by the hand of an indicating apparatusand by the stylus of a recording apparatus.

The movements of the diaphragm may be used for controlling the operation0 an acoustic signal, such as a whistle. Similarly, the movements of ahand influenced by the variations of the depression of the air pressure,over a dial, may be utilized to cause a visible signal to appear ordisappear. llloreover, a cock or a valve may be operated for producing adischarge or an admission of air, acting upon the continuous compressedan or vacuum brake of the train.

In the accompalrving drawings which illustrate by way of example apractical form of this invention Figure 1 is a sectional elevation takenalon g the axis of the converg'ing'diverging device installed under thelocomotive. This figure shows in cross section one of the screensconnected mechanically to a track signal opposite the mouth of thenozzle.

Fig. 2 is a partial plan showing the said screen and its connection tothe corresponding signal.

Fig. 3 is a cross section drawn to a larger scale on the line IlL-lll ofFig. 1.

Fin. 4 is a cross section on the line I\"-l\' of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section drawn to a larger scale than that of Fig.l, of a valve distrilmter connected to the diaphragm affected by thevariations of the depression in the nozzle, and designed to operate acom pressed air whistle.

Fig. (l is a sectional elevation of the sinrial-indicat ng mechanism.

(ill

Under the locomotive there is arranged transversely a nozzle ABsupported for instance by one of the longitudinals I) of the locomotiveframe. This nozzle comprises a converging element A the entry of airinto which takes place through a flaring inlet a and which is connected.to a diverging element B, whence the air is discharged through a mouth Iopening inside the standard clearance gage (indicated by dot and dashlines (l) and within the vertical plane (17 that limits the said gage.

A constant depression of the air pressure is maintained in the neck ofthe nozzle l\- I3 during the travel of the train. For this purpose asteam ejector is arranged in the nozzle. in front of the divergingmemher 1% of a device A li tor multiplying the depression of knownconstriu-tion.

The ejector is supplied with steam trom the locomotive boiler. thissteam being conveyed by a pipe E to the annular passage 1. The steamjets of any desired number. suck the air that has entered at a. andproduce in the neck of the converging-iliverging device v-l3 of thedcpressiononultiplier. a depression. which remains constant so long asthe amount of air discharged through the mouth [2 remains constant.

But on the said mouth 1) passing past a screen which obstructs more orless the discharge of the said air, the depression will be reduced. andthe reductions in the depression which have been rendered very sensitiveby the depression-niultiplier A-li A '5 are received and recorded by theapp ratus carried on the locomotive. The dcp c sion-multiplicr which inthis example is arranged in the nozzle back of the ejector mat besituated elsewhere. for instance in the nozzle in front cl the ejector,when it is desired to utilize the sudden variations of the depressionthat are produced in this reg on under certain conditions.

"1 be receiving and recording apparatus ma of course vary as desired.

For instance the neck of the convergingdivtaging device i\-'l may heconnected by a pipe I to a pocket ll closed by a llcXible diaphragm 1.Any variation of the depressic u in the pocket ll will cause a movementof be diap iragm I. This movement can be transmitted by a rod J to acompressed air distributer for operating a whistle.

In the example shown. Figs. 5 and (3, this distribute) comprises a box Kconnected by a pipe K to the compressed air reservoir on the locomotiw,and by a pipe K to the whistle. A valve L pressed by a spring against aseat Z in the box h. shuts otl' normallv the communication between K andK". (in the rod J there is mounted a pilotslide valve 'l pierced with abent duct J and adapted to slide in the main valve l1.

Normally, that is to say, when the constant depression created by theejector t, exists in the pocket H, the rod .l and the slide valve Jcarried by the latter, occupy the position shown in Fig. 5. The mainvalve L bears against its seat; the compressed air, of reservoirpressure, passes around the main valve and also inside the latterthrough the narrow gap Communication between K and l\-* is shut off bythe slide \alve J.

As soon as the diaphragm I is raised by reason of a" diminution in thedepression in the pocket H, the slide valve J is moved into a positionin which it establishes communication between the inside of the mainvalve and the pipe K The result is a sud den diminution of pressureinside the main valve, and consequently a lifting of the latter. Thislifting of the main valve llllOWs compressed air to pass from K to K.and consequently operates the whistle to give the alarm.

The pocket H, Fig. (3, may be connected by a branch pipe in to a vacuumgage M whose hand M may carry an indicating disk m The same pipe in oranother pipe, may connect the pocket H to a bellows N for operating thestylus n of a recording ap-- paratus of any suitable type.

The screens connected to the track signals ma be constituted forinstance as shown in igs. 1 and 2:

In a box fixed to the rail chair I. there are mounted rotatable verticalaxle pins 51 carrying shutters Q. The connection of all the axle pins qto the respective track signal may be effected by means of forked levers(1 between the prongs of which there extends and is jointed a common rodll connected to the track signal.

The sheet metal shutters Q may be moved into a position parallel to thetrack by the setting of the signal at danger; they are thus Situated afew centimeters away from the mouth 7) when the latter is moving pastthe screen.

The operation of the indicating and reoording devices may be started atthe passage of each signal even when the latter is at line clear. Forthis purpose it is merely necessary that the normal position of thescreen to be actuated, is suitably chosen in such a manner as to otter apartial obstacle to the discharge of the air from the mouth I) of thenozzle A-li.

It is to be understood that by variously adjusting the screenscontrolled by the va= rious signals (distant signals, home signals orstopping signals. etc), it is possible to produce ditlerent warning orindicating and recording ell'ects.

What l claim is:

1. An apparatus for automatically repeatltlll lit) ing upon thelocomotive track signals for protecting moving trains, characterized byan air suction or ejecting device arranged under the locomotive forcreating in a duct connected to acoustic optical or other warningdevices, and to a recording device, a constant depression of the airpressure during the mot1on of the train, said air suction or ejectingapparatus being combined with pivoting screens connected to the tracksignals and so arranged as to present in front of the air outlet of thesaid air suction or ejecting device carried by the locomotive, anobstacle to the normal outflow of the air in such a manner as to'modifythe depres sion that is normally maintained in the said duct connectedto the warning and recording devices.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air-duct comprises aconverging-diverging nozzle arranged under the locomotive transverselyof the longitudinal axial plane of the latter, in which there isarranged in front of an air pressure depression-multiplier, anair-ejecting device supplied with steam from the locomotive boiler; theneck of the inner converging-diverging member of thedepressiommultiplier being connected by a pipe to a pocket closed by adiaphragm which is in turn connected by a rod to a pilot slide valvesliding in a main valve that normally shuts off the communicationbetween a Whistle and the compressed air reservoir of the locomotive.

. 3. In arailway signal, a nozzle mounted on a car to form an air-duct,means for normally maintaining a depression of the air pressure in thenozzle, signal-indicating means communicating with the nozzle to beactuated by a fluctuation ofthe depression therein, and a screen mountedadjacent to the track to register with the mouth of a passing nozzle tocause a fluctuation of the depression in the nozzle.

4:. In a railway signal, a nozzle mounted on a car to' form an air-duct,an ejector in the nozzle for normally maintaining a depression of theair pressure therein, signalindicating mc'ans communicating with thenozzle to be actuated by a fluctuation of the (ltlllcHSlOll therein, anda screen mounted adjacent. to the track to register with the mouth of apassing nozzle tocause a fluctuation of the depression in the nozzle.

5. In a railway signal, a nozzle mountcd on a car to form an air-duct,means for normally maintaining a depression of the air prcssure in thenozzle, an amplifier in the nozzle to augment thc dcprcssion therein,signal-imlicating means communicating with the amplilicr to be actuatedby a tinctuation of the deircssiou tin-rein. and a screen mountedadjacent to the track to register with the mouth of a passing nozzle tocause a fluctuation of the depression in the nozzle and in theamplifier.

6. In a railway signal, a nozzle mounted on a car to form an air-duct,an ejector in the nozzle directed toward the mouth thereof for normallymaintaining a depression of the air pressure in the nozzle, an amplifierin the nozzle between the intake end thereof and the ejector to augmentthe depression maintained by the ejector, signalindicating meanscommunicating with the amplifier to be actuated by a fluctuation of thedepression therein, and a screen mounted adjacent to the t'raclt toregister with the mouth of a. passing nozzle to cause a fluctuation ofthe depression in the nozzle and in the amplifier.

7. In a railway signal, a nozzle mounted on a car comprising convergingand divcrg ing members joinedto 'ether to form an air-duct with aconstriction at the juncture of said members, means for forcing airoutwardly through the diverging member to maintain a depression of airpressure in the converging member, signal-indicating means communicatingwith the converging member to be actuated by a fluctuation ot' thedepression therein, and a screen mounted adjacent to the track toregister with the mouth of the diverging member of a pass ing nozzle tocause a fluctuation of the dcprcssion in the converging member.

8. In a railway signal, a nozzle mounted on a car comprising convergingand (llVQI'ging members joined together to form an air-duct with aconstriction at the juncture of said members, an ejector located in thenozzle at the constricted part of the airduct for forcing air throughthe diverging member to maintain a depression of the air pressure in theconverging member, signalindicating means communicating with theconverging member to be actuated by a finetuation of the depressiontherein, and a screen mounted adjacent to the track to register with themouth of the diverging member of a passing nozzle to cause a fluctuationof the depression in the converging member.

9. In a. railway signal, a nozzle mounted on a car comprising convergingand diverging members joined together to form an air-duct with aconstriction at the juncture oi said members, means for forcing airoutwardly through the diverging member to maintain a depression of theair pressure in the ci'invcrging member. an amplifier in the convergingmember to augment the dcprcssion thcrcin, signaldndicating meansconimunicatingwith the amplilicr to be actuated by a fluctuation of thcdepression therein. and a screen mounted adjacent to the track torcgistcr with the month of the diverging member of a passing nozzle tolib Ill)

cause a fluctuation of the depression in the converging member and theamplifier.

10. In a railway signal, a nozzle mounted on a car comprising convergingand diverging members joined together to form an air-duct with aconstriction at the juncture of said members, an ejector located in thenozzle at the constricted part of the air duct to force air outwardlythrough the diverging member to maintain a depression of the airpressure in the converging memher, an amplifier in the converging memberto augment the depression therein, signalindicating means communicatingwith the amplifier to be actuated by a fluctuation of the depressiontherein. and a screen mounted adjacent to the track to register with themouth of the diverging member of a pass ing nozzle to cause alllu-tuation of the depression in the converging member and theamplifier.

11. In a railway signal, a nozzle mounted on a car to form an air-duct.means for normally maintaining a depression in the nozzle.signaldndicnting means communicating with the nozzle to be actuated by afluctua. tion of the depression of the air pressure therein. a screenhaving a variable surface mounted adjacent to the track to register withthe mouth of a passing nozzle to cause a tluctuation of the depressionin the nozzle. and means for varying the sin-Face of the screen tomodify the fluctuations of the de pression in the nozzle to all'ect theactuation of the signal-imlicating means.

12. In a railway signal. a nozzle mounted on a car to form an air-duct.means for normally maintaining a depression of the air pressure in thenozzle. signal-indicating means connnunicating with the nozzle to beactuated by a fluctuation of the depression therein, a screen mountedadjacent to the track to register with the mouth of a passing nozzle tocause a fluctuation of the de pression in the nozzle, said screen eeiprising a plurality of movable members, and means for adjusting themovable members to vary the. surface of the screen to modify thefluctuations of the depression in the nozzle to affect the actuation ofthe signalindicating means.

13. In a. railway signal, a nozzle mounted on a car to form an air-duct,means for normally maintaining a depression of the air pressure in thenozzle, signal-indicating means communicating with the nozzle to beactuated by a fluctuation of the depression therein, a screen mountedadjacent to the track to register With the mouth of a passing nozzle tocause a fluctuation of the depression in the nozzle said screencomprising a plurality of pivoted shutters, and common means for turningsaid shutters to vary the surface of the screen to modify thefluctuation of the depression in the nozzle to affect the actuation ofthe signal-indicating means.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

EUGENE SCHNEIDER. 'itnesses ANoni-i Mos'rlonrzu,

Lotus Gannnr.

